I am posting this information here in case someone is looking for this
particular CASNER. The article appers in the book 'History of St.
Charles, Montgomery and Warren Counties, Missouri, 1885' by the National
& Historical Company, St. Louis. I am typing the article just as it is
printed.
Judge Casner came to Warren county from West Virginia, where he had
previously lived from his birth, in 1865, and settled in Warren county,
near Foristell, where he bought a good farm and engaged in farming and
raising stock. His experience here since that time has been an entirely
successful one, and he has risen in popular esteem among the people of
the county as a worthy farmer and useful citizen, not less than he has
propsered in material affairs. He has an excellent farm of 320 acres,
nearly all of which is either in active cultivation or meadow or
pasturage. It is beyond question one of the best and most desirable
farms of Hickory Grove township. He is an energetic, neat and thrifty
farmer and has set an example of successfulfarm life that is well worthy
of imitation. Judge Casner is a man of solid intelligence and sober,
sound, good judgment, as well as a man of excellent business
qualificaions and agreeable, popular manners. Always hospitable at his
comfortable home, and pleasant and dignified in his bearing toward all
whom he meets, he has very naturally won the confidence and esteem of
the public and challenged general respect and appreciation for his
sterling worth and usefulness as a citizen.
In 1874 such was his standing in the county, that he was elected
presiding justice of the county court by a majority of his
fellow-citizens highly complimentary to him, personally. He held that
important and responsible office no less than eight years,
consecutively, by the repeated indorsement of the people of the county,
and as long as he would consent to be burdened with its duties and
responsibilities. Judge Casner was born in Brook county, W. Va., March
8, 1828, and was a son of James and Elsie (Kerr) Casner, his father
originally of Maryland, but his mother from New Jersey. His grandfather
Casner was a gallant old soldier in the War for Independence. His mother
is still living, now a resident of Troy, Mo.; but his father died in
1842. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church. John C. was the
second of their famly of eight children, and was reared in his
native county. He was married there November 9, 1858, to Miss Rosa V.
Smith, a daughter of Andrew and Jane Smith, of that county. In the fall
of 1858 (December) he moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, and continued to
reside there, engaged in farming, until 1865, when he came to Missouri
and settled in Warren county, as stated above. The Judge and Mrs. Casner
have four children: Judson S., Lizzie (deceased), Edward H. and Dwight
E. He and wife are members of the Congregational Church.